Tape-applying machine



Jul 13, 1 93?,

TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 19:55 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 13, 1937. w. P. OSGOOD TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13, 1937. w. P. OSGOOD 3 TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1935 6 Sheets- -Sheet 5 ,Tiwewtbw msmm July 13', 1937. w. P. oseooo TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ati orweg July 1 19378.

W. P. OSGOQD TAPE APPLYING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21, 1955 HIV! Ju ly 13, 1937.

r w. P. ossocgn TAPE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1935 l 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I w. m.

V wor'wgy P nt d-J ly 1 3, p l i r 2,086,988

STATES PATENT I OFFICE a f t aosesss m 1 TAPE-APPLYING MACHINE H H Walter-P. Osgood, Malden Mass. 1 Application January 21, 1935, SerialNo. 2,634

20 Claims. (01. 12-51) The present invention. relates to machines for tion ofupull exerted by the applied tape upon applying strip material to shoe upper parts, and the tape in the slot of the tape guide coincide,

more particularly to top taping machinesof the" i. e., are on the same straight line, with the re- 1 type in which the free end of an adhesivelysuit that so long as the edge portion of the 5 coated tape in a roll is progressively pressed work engaged with the work guide is a straight downwardly upon a workpiece interposed beedge portion, the tape is applied to the work in tween a support and a cooperating pressingand the desired position. When, however, acurved feeding member for effecting the adhesion of edge portion of the work is engaged by the work the tape and the: work and a feed movement guide, necessitating that the work be swung thereof until the required length-of tape has against the work guide, the desired position of 10 been-applied to the work piece.- It should be; the tape on the work can no longer be mainunderstood, however, that some of the features tained for the curvededge. The reason for this of the present invention may; be used ,toadvanis that although the tape tends to issue from tage in back-seamtaping machinesinmachines the slot in the tape guide in a straightline, the

for applying strip material other, than: tape to point of pull of the tape last applied to the 15 shoe upper parts, and, in tape-applying mawork is moving laterally with respect to the chines of another type wherein the stripmatetape issuing from the slot since the curved edge rial is interposed between the support and the of the workgis being swung against the work shoe upper part, the latter being interposed beguide and the point of pullof the applied tape n0 tween the stripmaterial and the pressing memis no longer moving in a straight line. Stated, her. l 1 in another way, although for a straight edge In some top ,taplng'operations it is desirable portion, oithe work the work guide establishes that the strip material, such as tape, be applied. a predetermined relationship between one edge to the work piece with one edge of the tape ofthe tape and the adjacent edge of the work, flush with the edge of the work piece. In others, for a curved edge portion of the work the work 25 the edge "of the tape is located entirely .within guide can establish only an approximate of this the edge of the work piece, there being, a space predetermined relationship ,The result of this between the adjacent "edges of the tape and the situation is that if the vertical sides of the-slot i work piece, In still others, the strip material, confine the tape laterally, the direction of pull such as piping, is applied to the work piece between the tape in the guide and, the point 30 r with one edge of the piping projecting beyond the Where the tape has beenlast applied to thework edge of the work piece. It is highly desirable piece is on a chord intersecting the curved edge, that the spacing, or lack of spacing, between the the chord extending outside a concavely curved adjacent edges oi the work piece and the strip edge and inside a convexly curved one. With material be uniform throughout the extent of such a tapeguide the tape cannot be applied 35 the workpiece. r properly to an edge having a pronounced lateral Heretofore considerable difficulty has been encurvature, as the edge of theltape adjacent the countered in the operation of thetype of top point of application is constrained to follow the taping machine hereinbefore referred to when chord hereinbefore referred to.

40 tape is applied to a work piece along an edge Heretofore attempts have been made, to rem- 40 which has a pronounced lateral curvature such, edythis difiiculty by elongating the slot in the for sta s the convelily and aVGIY tape guide laterally so as to leave the tape free curved ed a ne w e, d t. to shift bodily in the tape guide under the pull lively, Of a p- When tape is applied along on the tape directed along the chord hereinbean edge Whichhas a P e f't curva' fore referred to; Experience has demonstrated ture the operative is required to Swmg the 9 that this change in construction did not remedy piece against the'work guide in orderto maindimculty; only change noted being an mm the curved edge the Work rplece m the error in the position of the tape reverse of that 1 line of feed. 1 l

which occurred when the slot in the tape guide t 50 Heretofore the tape has been directed upon. confined the edges of the m laterally. V

the work piec by a tape guide having a slot The principal object of the present invention through which the tape travels. When a straight portion or theredge of the work to be is to'produce a tape-applylfng machme of e taped is transferred along the work guide, the YD fi t ZC o y whlch the p y e direction of travel of the work and the direcapp d um ormly throughout s e e to the 5 edge of a work piece having a pronounced lateral curvature.

To the accomplishment of this object a feature of the invention contemplates the provision in a tape-applying machine having a. support over which a piece of sheet material having a curved edge is fed and swung, means for pressing the tape against the material and a guide for engaging the edge of the material and against which the material is swung during the application of the tape to the work, of means for directing the tape upon the material with one edge of the tape in a position of predetermined relationship with respect to the adjacent curved edge of the material during the swinging of the material against the guide and the transfer of the tape along the curved edge of the material.

The predetermined relationship may require one edge of the tape to be flush with the adjacent edge of the work, or to extend in a spaced relationship therewith.

In the broader aspects of the invention the predetermined relationship between one edge of the tape and the adjacent curved edge of the work may be effected by mechanism which shifts relatively the tape and the work'in accordance with the extent and direction of curvature of the edge of the work at the point of tape application.

Because of its simplicity, it is preferred that the predetermined relationship between one edge of the tape and the adjacent edge of the curved work throughout the transfer of the point of application of the tape therealong be effective by providing the tape-applying machine of the type first referred to with a tape-guide constructed and arranged. to allow the tape to swing bodily therein laterally under the influence of the moving work.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the tape-guide is provided with a surface generated by a moving straight line which continuously intersects a circumference of a fixed circle and is constantly parallel to a given fixed straight line, but it should be understood that the directrix of the cylindrical surface may be any curve.

A further object of the present invention is to produce a tape-applying machine having its various parts constructed and arranged to operate in an improved manner so that the pressing and feeding member which cooperates with the work support and effects the adhesion of the tape and the work and a feed movement thereof can be run at a high rate of speed without objectionable vibration and without excessive wear on the parts and so that the machine can produce as good, and in some respects, better work than machines of the prior art.

To the accomplishment of this further object, and such others as may appear hereinafter, the various features consist in certain devices, combinations and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and then set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claims which possess advantages readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The various features of the present invention will be understood readily from an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the best form of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which, t

Figure 1 is a view in left side elevation of the tape-applying machine, the tape-applying and taped work feeding pressing member being shown in its elevated position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of some of the operating parts illustrated in Fig. 1, the pressing member being shown in engagement with the tape and the taped work;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in front elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 2, the work and most of the tape being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in sectional elevation;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the tape cutting knife;

Fig. 6 is a detail View in sectional plan on the line 66, Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a view in sectional plan on the line 1-1, Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in rear elevation;

Fig. 9 is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line 99, Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view in plan illustrating the application of tape to the wing of a vamp;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating somewhat exaggerated the manner in which the tape swings in the tape guiding throat during the application of the tape to a convex edge portion of the work;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view in plan illustrating the application of tape to the throat of a vamp, and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating somewhat exaggerated the manner in which the tape swings in the tape guiding throat during the application of the tape to a concave edge portion of the work.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention applies tape to a shoe upper .part provided with pronounced lateral curvatures, said shoe upper being illustrated herein for convenience of disclosure as a vamp [4 (Figs. 10 and 12)- provided with convexly curved wing portions l5 and a concavely curved throat portion IS. The machine is provided with a work support in the form of, a roll I! over which the work is fed and a presser member I8 which has a movement toward and from the work support and which by such movement applies the tape to the work.

The presser member also has a movement while it is engaged with the work in order to feed the taped work rearwardly. During the feed of the work its edge is engaged by a guide if! against which the work is swung by the operative to maintain the curved edges of the work in the line of feed. The tape is directed upon the work by a tape-guiding throat constructed to direct the tape upon the work in a position of predetermined relationship between one edge of the tape and the adjacent edge of the work throughout the transfer of the point of application of the tape therealong. As usual, the machine is provided with a tape-severing knife 2| and a pull-off device for pulling tape from a source of supply 23.

The work supporting roll. I! is rotatably mounted upon one end of a stub-shaft 24 (Fig. 7) which is carried by a yoked arm 25 secured to a horizontal rock-shaft 26 journaled in a hollow frame 21. The roll I1 is spaced forwardly from the frame 21 and laterally from the arm 25 to provide clearance for supporting and permitting the swinging movement of a large piece of work such, for instance, as a made upper closed by a back seam. The work guide i9 is supported adjustably from the arm 25 in a well known manner.

The arm 25 (Figs. 7 and 9) is provided with an extension 28 the free end of which carries a pivot ,pin 29 pivotally connected to one end 1 adouble-yoked link same otherend a which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 3| carried end of a rod35 the'other end of which extends loosely througha strip 36 and: the framefl. The

work support I1 is pressed y ieldinglytoward the pressing member l8,througl1the connections described, by"a spring 3'! which is coiled about the a rod and interposed between the block 34 and the strip 35, there beingsuitab1ethumb-nuts 38 and 39 to adjust the position of the rod-35 and to lock it in adjustedposition. The strip depends somewhat loosely from the shank'of 'a bolt 40 threaded intothe frame 21. The tension of the spring 31 may beadjusted by a thumbscrew4 I having its shank threaded into the frame 21 and its point engaged with the lower end of the strip 36. The work support I! may be lowered against the tension of the spring .31 by a treadle-rod 42 pivotally connected to the other arm of the bell-cranklever 32.

y engaged with anfeccentric onIa horizontal shaft, 5| journaled in bearings 52 (Fig.4) 1 carried by, the frame 21, The shaft 5|, outside the frame 2l,is provided with a pulley 53 (Figs; 4 and ,6) which isdriven in the direction of, the

arrow, Fig.9, from some suitable source of power through a belt 54., The eccentric 50 is extended rearwardly (Fig. 4) to form a support upon which a counterbalance 55 is secured.

With this construction the vertical throw of the eccentric 50 causes the link 48 to oscillate the carrier 44 and the rock-shaft 45, thus imparting movement to-the-presser member I8 toward and from the work support H. The

lateral throw of the eccentric 50causesthe link 48 through its key connection with the-rockshaft 43 tooscillateit in the carrier 44,.thus

imparting the feed movement to the presser member 18.

Statedin another way, Oscillation of the carrier 44, and the rockshaft 45 carried thereby imparts a compound movement to the pressing member l8. y

The mechanism for imparting the compound movement to the. pressing member I8 is exceedingly strong, and rigid, andcan be run at a high rate of speed without objectionable vibration and without excessive wear on the parts. While itispreierred to, connect the "carrier 44 and the rock-shaft 45 as shown, the desirable compound movement may be imparted to the pressing Jmember l8 by the combined rockingmovement of the rock-shaft 43 in the carrier 44 and of the carrier 4on a "shaft corresponding to the shaft 45 but held rigidly in the frame 21. e e

For, the purpose explained inmy Patent No. 1,549,376, Augustll l925, the presser member IB is jslotted to receive the ,lo wer ends' of two pivot fingers56 and 51 (Figs. 2 and a) the upper end'of each of which is pivotally mounted on a block is. Thcupper 'endof the bloc k 5a is supported by a stud 59 (Fig. 3) bolted to abracket 61 secured to the head46. Eachpivot finger 56 or 51 is pressed yieldingly against the workby a spring 60, (Figs. 1 and 2). It will be understood by those skilled in the art. that along the pronounced lateral curvatures'on the wings I5 and the throatlB of the vamp I4 (Fig. 12) the tape willbe plaited slightly in accordance with the showing of Fig. '7 of my patent hereinbefore identified,xwhich showing is, however, somewhat exaggeratedto facilitate disclosure.

The tapeto be applied to the work is mounted in individual rolls upon a. horizontal spindle *6l (Fig. 1) projecting. laterally from the upper end of abracket 62 the lower end of which is secured to a cover 63 for the parts within the frame 21. The loose end of the ,tapeis withdrawn from one of the rolls and led with its adhesive face uppermost over a pieceof bent wire 64 secured to the bracket 61 and thence under an elongated roll 65 (Fig.2) rotatably mounted on a stud 66 projecting forwardly from the bracket 61. From the roll 65 thetape passesover an elongated roll 68 carried by one end of a lever 69 pivoted onthe bracket 61. From the roll 'lllthe tape passes overa roll ll supported from the upperend of an arm 12 secured at its lower end to the block 58. From the roll 12 the tape passes first through a slot 13 formed in a bracket l4 adjustably, se cured to the front faceof the block 58 and then through a slot "l5forrned in an armTB adjustably secured to the left hand face of the block 58.

i The tape is directed upon the Work by the throat 20 secured to the lower end of a-lever 18 which is provided with a slot 19 intermediate its ends to receive looselythereduced forward end of the rock-shaft 45. As shown particularly in Figs. 11 and 13, the tape in passing through the throat 20 is supported by a closed cylindrical surface, the diameter of which is less than the width of the tape. Thus the tape is bent lat erally about a'fixed axis extending longitudinally of the tape. l i i i With this construction, the'edge guide I9 is adjusted in accordance with the proper-or predetermined relationship that should exist be tween the edge 80 of the tape and the adjacent edge of the work, it being "understood that by reason of the chording effect noted above the .edge guide l9 itself provides withrespect to the curved edge of the work only an approximate of the tape edge and curved edgerelationship desired. Once the approximate of 'theproper tape edge and work edge relationship is provided for by adjustment of the work guide lfifthe tape guide 20 functions automatically to bring the edge of the tape and the adjacent curved edgefl left, viewing 10, against the guide l9 as a center in orderftormaintain the convexly' curved edge in the line of,feed." The idifection ot pull between the tapefixedto the work and the loose tape in the throat is along a'chord intersecting the convex curve. ,This ypull swings the tape bodily laterally to the left, viewing Fig. 11, but

the extent to which the tape is swung to the left is controlled by the cylindrical surface which compels the edge to turnupwardly into a vertical plane substantially tangentially to the curved edge of the work at the next succeeding point of tape application.

When the tape is being applied to the concavely curved throat of the vamp.|4 the operative swings the untaped portion of the vamp to the right, viewing Fig. 12, about the guide l9 as a center in order to maintain the concavoly curved edge in the line of feed. At the same time the tape is swung bodily to the right, viewing Fig. 13, thus maintaining the edge 80 of the tape in the proper operating position relatively to the curved edge of the work at the next succeeding point of tape application.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the roll 88 is employed as a pull-off to pull the tape from the source of supply, thus to insure the application of the tape to the work and the feed of the work under the same tension. To this end the lever 69 (Figs. 1 and 2) is pivoted to one end of a link 8|, the lower end of which is connected pivotally to the carrier 44 within a slot 82 formed therein. Thus the oscillating carrier 44, through the link 8|, imparts alternating up and down strokes to the pull-off roll 68 which acts to pull tape from the source of supply on the up stroke and to release the tape on the down stroke to permit the pressing member 18 to draw the tape through the throat 20 free of the source of supply tension.

During the operation of the pull-off roll 68 to pull tape from the source of supply, the roll 65 is rotated in a counterclock-wise direction, viewing Fig. 2. To prevent rotation of the roll in a clock-wise direction, viewing Fig. 2, the stud 66 carries a ratchet 83 which is engaged by a pawl 84 secured to the bracket 61. When the pull-off roll 68 is moved to pull tape from the source of supply the lever 69 is elevated and a spring plate 85, connected by one end thereto, is depressed into engagement with the tape passing over the roll H, thus preventing the tape roll 68 from pulling tape backwardly through the throat 28.

The tape-severing knife 2| is provided with a V-shaped cutting edge 86 (Fig. 5) which is secured to one end of a lever 81 pivoted on the reduced forward end of the rock-shaft 45. The tape-severing knife 2| is actuated in a direction to sever the tape by a coiled spring 88 (Fig, 2) one end of which is connected to the bracket 61 and the other end of which is connected to the upper end of the lever 81. The lever 81 is held normally in the position of Fig. 2 against the tension of the spring 88 by a latching means comprising a cam surface 89 formed on the front edge of the lever and a block 90 (Figs. 2 and 5) secured to the lever 81.

In order to disengage the latching means at the will of the operative, the upper end of the lever 18 is pivotally connected to one end of a bell-crank lever 9| which is pivoted on the stud 59. The other end of the bell-crank lever 9i is provided with a finger-piece 92 arranged as close as may be to the work support ll so that the operative in feeding the work through the machine may engage the finger-piece 92 in the same general direction as the feed of the work. When the operative engages the finger-piece 92 the lever 18 is elevated to bring the throat 20 out of the path of the tape-severing knife 2| and to locate a recess 93 formed in the lever 18 opposite the block 90. The latching means is thus disengaged to allow the spring 88 to actuate the knife to sever the tape.

In order to limit positively the active tapesevering stroke of the knife 2| and to return the knife to its original position, the carrier 44 is provided with a plate 94 (Figs. 2 and 6) which engages the lever 81, above its pivotal connection, on the upward'swing of the carrier 44 to lift the presser member l8 from the work.

During the tape-severing operation it is desirable to hold the tape extending rcarwardly of the work taut. To this end the bell-crank lever 9| is provided with a third arm 95 (Fig. 3) from which is supported a lateral pin 98 arranged to press the plate 85 firmly into engagement with the tape passing over the roll 1 I.

When the operative releases the finger-piece 92 the parts are restored to the position of Fig. 2 by a coiled spring 91, one end of which is secured to a pin 98 (Fig. 3) projecting laterally from the third arm of the bell-crank lever 9|, and the other end of which is connected to a pin 99 (Fig. 4) projecting laterally from the bracket 61. The movement of the lever 9| under the influence of the spring 91 is limited by an adjustable stop I00 (Figs. 1 and 2) secured to the bracket 61 and arranged to engage the pin 98.

With this construction the knife 2! will be operated continuously by the spring 88 on its active stroke and by the carrier 4-1 on its idle stroke as long as the operative maintains the finger-piece 92 depressed. As soon, however, as the finger-piece 92 is released, the spring 91 will return the throat 20 to the position of Fig. 2. During this return movement of the throat 28 the cam surface 89 wedges the block 98 to the right, (Fig. 2) thus re-engaging the latching means which holds the knife out of operation.

Nothing herein explained is to be interpreted as limiting the various features of the present invention in the scope of its application to use in connection with the particuar machine or the particular mode of operation or both selected for purposes of illustration and explanation. While the particulars of construction herein set forth are well suited to one mechanical form of the invehtion and to the use to which it is put, it is not limited to this use, nor to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential since they may be modified within the skill of the artisan without departing from the true scope of the actual invention, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claims by the intentional use of generic terms and expressions inclusive of various modifications.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In a tape-applying machine, the combination with a work support, means cooperating with said work support for applying tape to the work and for feeding the taped work, and means for guiding the work as it is swung on the work support to transfer the point of application of the tape along curved marginal portions thereof, of means for guiding the tape to the point of application constructed to permit the tape to swing bodily therein laterally under the influence of the moving work.

2. In a tape-applying machine, the combination with a work support and means cooperating therewith for applying tape to the work, of

means for guiding the tape to the point of ap- 7 plication and for bending aportion of the tape about anaxis extending longitudinally thereof;

3. In a tape applying machine, the combinationwith a work support and a tape-applying device, of a tape-guiding throat having an opening through which the tape passes and in which i 1 w the tape may swing, said opening being narrower than the tape.

4.,,In a tape-applying machine,\the combination with a work support and a device cooperating with the work support for applying tape to the work and for feeding the taped work, of a tapeguiding throat having a curved surface upon which the tape may swing.

- 5. In a tape-applying machine, the combination with a work support and a device cooperating with the work support for applying tape to the workand for feeding the taped work, of a tape-guiding throat. having substantially a cylindrical tape-supporting surf ace.

6. In a tape-applying machine,the combina- 3 tion with awork support and a tape-applying device, of a tape-guiding throat having substan-, tially a closed cylindrical tape-supporting surface the diameter of which is less than the width of the tape.

'7. A tape-applying machine having, in combi nation, a work support, a device cooperating with said work support for applying tape to the work, and means for imparting a compound movement to, said device comprisinga rock-shaft upon which the device is mounted, a carrier forthe rock-shaft and mechanism for oscillating the rock-shaft and the carrier.

8. A tape-applying machine having, in combination, a work support, a device cooperating with said work support for applying tape to the work,

is mounted, and mechanism for oscillating the and means for imparting a compound movement to said device comprising a rock-shaft upon which the device is mounted, a carrier for the rock-shaft, a rockshaft upon which the carrier rock-shafts. p l

9. A tape-applying machine having, in combination, a work support, a device cooperating with said work support for applying tape to the l work, and means forimparting a compound movement to saiddevice comprising a rock-shaftupon Whichthe device is mounted, a carrier for the v 5 rock-shaft, an eccentric, and connections between the eccentric and the rock-shafts for oscillating them. I

10.,A tape-appiying machine having, in combination, a work support, a rock-shaft, a tape applying device carried thereby, an eccentric, a,

link having an eccentric strap at one end and a strap keyed ;to the rock shaft at the other end,

a second rock-shaft journaled in the frame of the machine, and a carrier secured to the second rock-shaft supporting the first named rock-shaft.

11. Atape-applying machinehaving, in combination, a work support, a tape-applying device, and means for supporting the tape-applying device including a rock-shaft and an oscillating I carrier therefor. p

12. A tape-applying machine having, in combination, a work support, a tape-applying device,

and means for supporting the tape-applying device including a floating rock-shaft.

13.A tape-applying machine having, in combination, a support, means for pressing a tape anda work-piece together on said support and fo'r causing a feed movement thereof over said support, means for severing the tape adjacent to the point of attachment to the work, means for imparting a tape-severing stroke to the tape- 'severing means, and separate means for operatively connecting said severing and Work feeding means to return the severing means to its original position. I

14. In a tape-applying machine, the combination with a tape-severing knife and a spring for imparting a cutting stroke to the knife, of a stop for limiting the cutting stroke of the knife.

15. In a tape-applying machine, the combination with a tape-severing knife and a spring for imparting a cutting stroke to the knife, of a power operated stop for limiting the cutting stroke of the knife. a i 16. A tape-applying machine having, in combination, a knife for severing the tape, said knife having an active and an idle stroke, yielding means for actuating the knife on its active stroke and positive means for actuating the knife on its idle stroke.

17. A tape-applying machine-having, in combination, tape-applying mechanism, tape-severing mechanism, a spring for imparting a tape-severing stroke to the tape-severing mechanism, latching means for retaining the tape-severing mechanism out of operation, means under the control of the I operative for disengaging the latching means,

and automatic mechanism for throwing the tapesevering mechanism out of operation.

' 18..A tape-applyingmachine having, in combination, tape-applying mechanism, tape-severing mechanism, a spring for imparting atapesevering stroke to the tape-severing mechanism,

latching means for retaining the tape-severing mechanism out of operation, means under the control of the operative for disengaging the latching means, and automatic mechanism for throwing the tape-severing mechanism out of operation of means for guiding the tape tothe point of.

application constructed to bend a portionof the tape about an axis extending longitudinally thereof and to permit the bent portion of the tape to swing bodily therein laterally under the influence of the moving work.

20. In a tape-applying machine, the combination with awork' support and a tape-applying device, of a tape-guiding throat having a tape-supporting surface substantially like the inner surface of a ring.

.WALTER P. osoroon. 

